Sample obtaining implement



July 10, 1934. 0 GERHARDT 1,955,638

SAMPLE OBTAINING IMPLEMENT Filed May -13, 1933 Patented July 10, 1934UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a sample obtaining implement.

An object of the invention is to provide an implement of the characterdescribed whereby samples of liquid may be obtained from a liquidcontainer.

Another object is to provide an implement of this character whereby thesamples may be obtained at different depths.

A still further object is to provide an implement of the characterreferred to having means thereon for gripping and holding a bottle orother sample container.

A still further object is to provide an implement of the characterdescribed which is of such construction that the sample containingbottle may be readily picked up without having to touch the bottle withthe hand.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 shows afront elevation of the unplement.

Figure 2 shows a side View.

Figure 3 shows an elevational view of the implement with the samplecontaining bottle gripped thereby.

Figure 4 shows a plan view, showing the handle in section, and

Figure 5 shows a side View showing its application in the process ofpicking up the sample containing bottle.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the handle which is preferablyin form of a rod of the desired length and whose upper end has a hook 2thereon whereby the implement may be hung from a suitable support 3.

Attached to the lower end of the handle there is a band 4, which may beof any desired contour depending on the shape of the sample receivingbottle or container to be handled. As shown this band is rectangular inplan view.

Depending from opposite sides of the band are the inwardly curvedflexible grip fingers 5, 5 whose lower ends may have the insideshoulders 6, 6 and upstanding from said band and secured to oppositeends thereof are the flexible inwardly curved grippi fingers 7, '7.

In use, a container, such as a bottle 8, will be gripped by theimplement and submerged in the liquid, such as milk, to be tested andwhen the bottle is filled with a sample the implement, together with thebottle is withdrawn, thus withdrawing the sample. A number of samplesmay be taken and suspended from the support 3 pend- 7 ing the analysisof said samples.

The bottles or other sample containers 8 are sterilized before they arelowered into the milk or other liquid and it is desirable that thebottle be gripped by the implement without the necessity of touching thebottle by hand. This may be readily done. The implement may be soapplied to the bottle that the band 4 will embrace the top and neck ofthe bottle diagonally as shown in Figure 5 so that the bottle will bemaintained in an upright position and the implement may then begradually forced down over the bottle, the fingers 5 gradually spreadingand passing down the sides of the bottle until the bottle assumes theposition relative to the implement shown in Figure 3 whereupon thefingers 5 will securely grip the sides of the bottle and the shoulder 6will engage underneath the bottom of the bottle, so that it will besecurely retained while the sample is being taken. When the sample istaken and the implement suspended from the support 3, the bottle maythen be gripped by hand and pulled out, either downwardly or upwardly,the fingers 5, 7 yielding to permit such removal.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be apreferred form of the invention by way of illustration only while thebroad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An implement of the character described comprising a handle, a bandthereon, pairs of oppositely arranged, inwardly curved, flexible fingersdepending from and upstanding from said band and whose ends are free.

2. An implement of the character described comprising a handle, ananchor on one end of the handle shaped to surround an object to be heldby the implement, a pair of inwardly curved, flexible fingers dependingfrom the anchor, and a pair of inwardly curved flexible fingersupstanding from the anchor and arranged staggered relative to thedepending fingers, the ends of said fingers being free.

3. An implement of the character described comprising a handle, aring-like anchor on one end of the handle shaped to surround an objectto be held by the implement, a pair of oppositely arranged fingersdepending from the anchor and whose lower ends are inwardly turned, anda pair of oppositely arranged fingers upstanding from the anchor, theends of the fingers being free.

OSWALD C. GERHARDT.

